Railroad-tie



M. HAWKES.

RAILROAD TIE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9.1917- RENEWED JAN. 30, I920- 1,333,173. Patented Mar. 9,1920. 3

INVENTOR oft/m Wm? fizz/Zea ATTOR N EY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAXIM HAWKES, 0F PETOSKEY, MICHIGAN.

RAILROAD-TIE.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, MAXIM HAWKES, a citizen of the United States, Petoskey, in the county of Emmet and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved railroad tie of the sheet metal type and the principal object of the invention is to provide a tie formed in sections positioned in telescoping relation and with the upper section yieldably supported, improved means being provided for connecting the rails with the upper section of the tie and further an improved construction being provided for the sections of the tie so that this tie will be-very strong and durable and not liable to be bent or moved out of the proper position.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this tie that the parts forming the same may be easily and quickly assembled and to further so construct it that the two sections will be held in engagement when the tie is assembled and the springs prevented from raising the upper section beyond a desired amount.

' This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view showing the improved tie in elevation, rails being connected therewith and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved tie with the rails indicated by dotted lines.

-Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the improved tie with the rails connected therewith.

Fig. ,4 is a transverse sectional view through the improved tie.

The tie is provided with a lower section 10 and an upper section 11 fitting into the lower section fo telescoping connection therewith, the lower section being provided with end flanges 12 for preventin the upper sectlon from having longitudina movement w1th1n I the lower section. 4 The side walls of the lower section are provided with vertically extending slots 13 which register with openings 14 formed in the side walls of the inner section and receive bolts 15 serving to limit the sliding or telescoping movement of the upper section. Bracing plates 16 are provided for the upper section to connect the side walls thereof and brace the upper sec- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed Kay 9, 1917, Serial No. 167,574.

. tion against spreading,

residing at Patented Mar. 9, 1920. Renewed January 30, 1920. Serial No. 355,295.

thus protecting the tie against damage. In order to yieldably hold the upper section in a raised position, there are provided springs 17 positioned as shown in Fig. 3 with their upper and lower ends fitting into the cups 18'and 19 to prevent the springs from slipping out of place when the upper section is moved downwardly under the weight of a train passing over the tie. It is of course, understood that under normal conditions, the upper section will be held in a raised position by the springs and that the springs will have suflicient strength to prevent the upper section from being moved downwardly a suflioient distance to damage the tie.

When the tie is in use, the upper section is put in place with the springs positioned as shown in Fig. 3 and the upper section will then be forced downwardly by a suitable compressing device such as a clamp after which the bolts 15 will be put in place. The clamp can then be removed and the two sections will be connected. The rails 20 will a then be put in place and will rest upon the end portions of the ties above thebracing strip 16 and will be engaged by the securing blocks or fasteners 21 upon the upper section and are provided with pins 22 which pass through slots 23 formed in the upper wall of the upper section upon opposite sides of the rails. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the heads on the pins 22 are permitted to extend through the slot 23 and for this reason the heads on the pins are slightly elolngated so that when the blocks 21 are moved up into engagement with the rail, the pins 22 will pass into the angular portions of the slot 23 and the heads on the ends of the pins will thereby be prevented from being raised out of the slot 23 until the pins are moved back into the longitudinal portions of the slot. When the wedges 25 are received in the slots, after the pins have been moved into the angular portions thereof, movement of the pins through the slots is prevented by the wedges so that the blocks or fasteners 21 are held against displacement. Resilient strips 24 are secured to the under faces of the fastener blocks 21 and carry wedges 25 which fit into the slots 23 and serve to securely hold the blocks in place and prevent movement of the blocks away from the sides of the rails. It will which fasteners rest thus be seen that the rails will be securely upper section, bracing means for the upper held in place and prevented from becoming section extending transversely of the tie and disconnected from the ties. connected with the side walls of the upper 15 What is claimed is section, and positioned beneath the rail se- A tie comprising upper and lower sections curing means and limiting means between positioned in telescoping relation and havthe said yieldable means.

ing side walls, means passing transversely In testimony whereof I aflix my signature through the tie and side walls for limiting 'in presence of two witnesses.

the vertical sliding movement of the upper MAXIM HAWKES. section, means for yieldably holding the up- Witnesses: per section in a raised position, means for FLoYD HOPPER,

connecting rails with the end portions of the BERTHA HAWKES. 

